MLA South East's work interacts with a number of government departments and government agencies but in particular:
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
- Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
- Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
- Government Office for the South East (GOSE)
DCMS aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. Their vision is to extend excellence and improve access in all their many sectors. DCMS's post in Government Office South East (GOSE) sits on the wider Culture Team at SEEDA, which generally meets monthly.
DCSF leads work across Government to ensure that all children and young people stay healthy and safe; secure an excellent education and the highest possible standards of achievement; enjoy their childhood; make a positive contribution to society and the economy and have lives full of opportunity, free from the effects of poverty. Its predecessor, DfES (the Department for Education and Skills), funded a number of our pilot projects which act as case studies for advocacy and sharing good practice, eg Black Box and Drawn From Memory, funded by the lifelong learning division of DfES and the Museums and Galleries Education Programme phase 2, funded by the Curriculum Division of DfES. We also liaise with regional DCSF at places like the regional children and young people's forum.
DCLG has a vison of confident, vibrant, sustainable communities where everyone has a say in shaping their environment. It aims to deliver this by working to offer more choice and better quality in public services; addressing the issues of climate change; building cohesion and tackling anti-social behaviour and extremism. For this to work, it is encouraging local authorities and their partners to work closely with their communities to help create an environment everyone can be proud of.
GOSE represents central government in the South East, particularly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; the Departments for Education and Skills; Trade and Industry; Transport; Culture, Media and Sport; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office. GOSE works to influence, contract and develop government programmes and initiatives at a regional and local level, by working in partnership with relevant organisations to meet local needs. MLA South East participates on GOSE's Children and Young People's Forum which brings together regional bodies and agencies that have a concern for children's care and life opportunities. We have also presented on the value of museums, libraries and archives to regional co-ordinators of specific government initiatives such as Positive Activities for Young People and Healthy Care.
